Fish creel trap gate



July 31, 1951 ODNEAL 2,562,636

FISH CREEL TRAP GATE Filed Sept. 27, 1949 Inventor Nova 6. Odnea/ Patented July 31, 1951 UNXTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to noveland useful improvements in fishermens articles.

An object of this invention is to improve a fish creel by employing a resiliently urged trap gate in the lid thereof which is constantly resiliently pressed against the inside surface of the lid.

Other objects and features will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the creel having the invention applied;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 3 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line of 3--3 of Figure 4 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the closure member, the springs and the spring hangers forming a part of the invention.

In the illustrated form of the invention, a substantially conventional fish creel I is illustrated with the usual straps l2 and ldtogether with a lid I 6 having a latch mechanism l8 operatively connected therewith. The lid I6 is provided with an opening 23, under which swings the trap gate closure member 22. This closure member consists of a fiat plate having one end of each spring of the pair of springs 26 and 28 secured thereto and simply reacting thereon. However, it is preferable that the spring be soldered or otherwise is firmly fixed to the lower surface of the plate 22.

A spring hanger generally indicated at 30 is disposed on the top of the lid l6 and has two downwardly extending ends 32 and 34, passed through the basket weave or other type weave material 36 which forms the lid [6. A length 38 of the spring hanger extends from the upper portion of the downwardly extending end 32 and a similar horizontal length 40 extends from the upper portion of the downwardly extending end 34. Then, U-shaped members 42 and 44 respectively have their legs extending parallel to the downwardly extending ends 32 and 34. At the top of the U-shaped members and joiningthem is a length 48, the entire hanger being made of wire.

The springs. 26 and 28 are disposed about the webs 50 and 52, respectively, of the U-shaped members 42 and 44.

As described the front ends 26a and 28a of said springs 26 and 28, respectively react on the bottom of the plate 22. The rear ends of said springs are joined by an integral piece of substantially U-shaped configuration and is indicated at 60. The member 60 reacts on the woven material 36 of the lid l6 adjacent the opening 20.

With the ends 32 and 34 simply pushed into the material 36 of the lid, the plate 22 prohibits movement of the hanger upwardly of the lid and maintains it in place firmly. In operation it is only necessary to press on the lid 22 opposing the force of springs 26 and 28 whereby the closure is opened. The springs automatically return the closure to the aperture closing position as is readily obvious.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. In a fishing creel, a lid having an opening invention, what is therein, a trap gate which comprises a closure.

member for said opening, a pair'of springs, and a hanger for said springs secured to said lid and positioned on the outer side thereof, said hanger including downwardly extending portions which pass into the material of the lid and substantially U-shaped portions, said springs being disposed on said substantially, U-shaped portions, and said springs having ends, at least one end portion of each of said springs reacting on said closure to oppose the movement thereof into the open position and the other end portions of said springs reacting on the lid.

2. In a fishing creel lid having an opening therein, a trap gate comprising a closure member for said opening and a spring hanger, a spring, said spring hanger having end portions fixed to said lid and having a substantially U- shaped portion accommodating said spring, said spring reacting on said closure member and said lid, opposing the movement in one direction of 7 said closure member.

3. In a fishing creel lid of Woven material which has an opening therein, a closure member for saidopening, a spring hanger having end portions, said end portions being adapted to be passed into the woven material of the lid and said spring hanger having a spring accommodating portion, and a spring disposed on said portion and having ends, one of the ends reacting on the material of said lid adjacent said opening and the other of the ends of said spring reacting on said closure member constantly pressing it in the closing position.

NOVA G. ODNEAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hurd Feb. 17, 1925' 

